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...so exactly when are those new fatigue (duty/rest) rules coming, again?
Besides, CDOs are not inherently unsafe - how their utilized by a company is what makes them unsafe.
It's still locked up in the aviation safety sub comittee, but just like these new hiring minimums, they will be addressed eventually.
And CDOs are liked by some, hated by others, but you can't argue with science. A min of 10 hours of rest behind the door is just safer than a CDO.
I'm sure folks have been saying that for the past two decades...maybe you're right and this time something will change.
Maybe.
A CDO isn't any different than the flying FedEx/UPS/AirNet/etc. do, or doctors/nurses/police/firefighters do - its just night shift work.
If companies schedule CDOs solely as night shift work, then there's nothing about them that is unsafe - the human body's circadian rhythm adjusts. On the other hand, if a company backs them up to regular parings or has crews flying turns before or after the start of the CDO turn, then yes that is quite unsafe and needs to be addressed by regulation.
You are missing an important part of the equation. The marginal ticket buyer, you know the one who buys the 90 day advance $99 ticket, will elect not to travel on the airlines. I know it is hard to imagine anyone would elect to drive when they could fly. But a lot of people do it. The market and individual self-interest will dictate what wages should be. The airline do not have the profit margins to raise wages without raising ticket prices. It is basic economics, if you raise the price of commodity, less people will purchase that commodity. With less people purchasing there is not as much demand for that commodity, therefore there will be fewer, but better paid pilots. As with many regulations, good for senior, not so good for everyone else. BTW yea like back in the early 90's as a 10K hour pilot I could not apply at American Eagle because I did not have 500 hours in the last year, I only had 450 PIC in a AC-690.That will drive Regional expenses way up, and will limit their attractiveness to the legacies. The legacies will then decide to do some of the regional flying themselves flying smaller mainline planes, and that will increase mainline hiring. I also don't see foreign pilots coming into the mix. If Congress is getting tough on our US pilots, I would think it would make it hard for foreigners, like language tests and flying aptitude tests that won't be easy. One crash with a foreigner flying it, and that program would be over.
Bye Bye--General Lee
My hope is the majors get huge pay raises in their next contract!!!
Raise the bar and rising tides!!!
The free market system at it's best. Too many pilots chasing too few jobs, minimums go up and wages go down. If there are too many job's chasing too few pilots then minimums go down and wages go up. Remove the ability to lower the minimums and that only leaves one choice. If a regional finds it can't fill new hire classes they will pay more and/or give bonuses to attract new pilots. Everyone thinks of new hire cfi type applicants being the only ones who go to the regional level. I have many friends with 1000's of hours that are flying corporate, charter, air ambulance, forest service, etc. that would be willing to jump to 121 if first year pay was a livable wage. If your airline went out of business would you start applying to every 20k airline job or try to find something that had wages comparable to what you make now?
The free market system at it's best.
If there are too many job's chasing too few pilots then minimums go down and wages go up. Remove the ability to lower the minimums and that only leaves one choice.
A person who understands the business world!